How To Make your own Custom Folding Table

One of the greatest inventions in home improvement is the folding table. It’s light and portable, perfect as a picnic or camping table, and an excellent gift idea for friends and neighbors. Simply buying one will save you time and effort but you can easily build one on your own. You have several options: a wooden, plastic, or aluminum folding table. With just these three simple materials you can make your own customized folding furniture in any shape or form you require. When you have some spare time you would like to spend productively, visit your local hardware or lumber store and get ready your materials. You can also just look around the house or yard for possible materials you can use. Do you have some old wood lying around? Don’t get rid of it. Bring out those excess nails from last year’s renovation and get your trusty hammer and saw back on the job. Just follow these steps when you are ready to begin with your project.

1. A small, portable table will need the following materials:

At least an inch and a half of thick wood board of your choice should be allowed for the table top. You may require something thicker depending on the amount of pressure you expect your wooden table to withstand. It could be one made of pine, cedar, oak, or any wood you can find lying around as long as it is completely dry to prevent warping. You can have a round or square table. When built properly, a folding table will work regardless of its shape and dimensions.

A thinner plywood piece for the rim, which will be placed beneath the tabletop and onto which the legs would be connected.

Wood pieces for the support rails, plus legs specifically cut according to your preferred height measurements.

Electric power drill

Hinges

Saw

2. Cut the tabletop into half exactly at the center as well as the four support bars. Make sure they are of exactly the same sizes so as to fit perfectly when the table folds to close.

3. Cut the end of the legs that will serve as a foundation at an angle so that they will stand upright.

4. Now lay down both tabletops underside up, place the support rails about two inches from each of the table’s edges. Each of the table halves should have a pair of support rails whose inner side will be where a pair of legs would be positioned parallel to each other.

5. Pierce a circular opening at the edge of each of the support bar through the corresponding pair of legs to connect them. Then, drill a hole through the center of both pairs of legs where they are to cross. See to it that they are precisely parallel as this will allow the folding mechanism to take place.

6. Assemble the pieces and connect everything together with dowels and secure with adhesive for added grip. Make sure to grease the dowels sufficiently for turns to be flawless. The table should be able to stand on its own.

You are of course not limited to this variety of table. Upon mastering its dynamics, possibilities for design are endless. Looking for more ideas? This website will help you plan the look of your table: southernaluminum.com. Decided you’re not up for it after all? Here you go: campingworld.com. The site sells traditional picnic benches, camping tables and all sorts of portable tables you can use out in the garden, in the garage, or just around the house.